Auto-controlled continuously-fed magazine pencil



June 4, 1929. NELSON 1,716,354

AUTO CONTROLLED CONTINUOUSLY FED MAGAZINE PENCIL F iled Feb. '1. 1925 a 2 M a m B m w M F MM w R W 'fifi INVENTOR ATTORNEY III,

Fatentetd June El, 392% UNET STATEg mesa rear re,

ANTON R. NELSON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND I MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE WAHL COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR- PORATION OF DELAWARE.

AUTO-CONTROLLED CON TINUOUSLY-FED MAGAZINE PENCIL.

Application filed February 7, 1925. Serial No. 7,803.

The present invention relates to magazine pencils in general, and more particularly to those provided with removable magazines carrying supplies of leads to be drawn upon as necessity arises and bearing eraser-s as closure for their upper ends and retaining means for securing extra leads in reserve for emergencies and to direct attention to magazines requiring replacement.

Primarily, my invention is designed to operate as a replacement-magazine pencil, the emptied magazine being removed and replaced by a filled one, from which the individual leads are conducted by gravity into a channel provided with elements adapted for their future control and as a means whereby they are fed as used or withdrawn for protection within a sheath when not desired for use.

The essential features of my invention reside in the replacement character of the magazine in which the leads are stored. the manner of successively feeding the individual lead therefrom into a special channel provided with readily manipulated and controlled fced-elements, and the means for retaining in place an extra lead as a reserve after the magazine supply has been exhausted and as evidence of an approaching need of magazine replacement.

A principal object of my invention is to provide loaded magazines bearing erasers and extra leads for the replacement of those whose leads have been used-up, or exhausted, in the ordinary magazine pencil constructions.

A further object of the'invention is to provide a positive thrust-feed for individual leads in bringing them into service-position, of a character that, in gripping the lead and imparting the necessary feedthrust, the operation will, also, act to release a forward gripping element serving to hold the lead in place while in use, thereby permitting the accomplishment of the lead feeding and the return of these two gripping elements to their normal positions, upon release of the thrust movement, in readiness for the following feed operation, the two elements being caused to act and co-act through the impulse of thrust imparted through finger-grips and consequent compression and release of an intervening coiled spring.

Additional objects will present themselves as this specification progresses and be more clearly brought out in the claims hereto appended. Y

In the accompanying one-sheet of drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which similar characters of reference refer to like parts, throughout:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved magazine pencil, as it appears in po sition and held for feeding, with the index finger and thumb in lace u on the fingergrips through which t e fee mg mechanlsm is controlled;

. Figure 2 is an elevation, showing the pencil barrel, clip, and one of the feeding mechanism grips extending through the barrel;

Figure 3 is a view, showing the several parts constituting the pencil disassembled, with certain of these arranged in the order of their assemblage;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional View of the lower end of the pencil barrel, lead feeding mechanism and frictional gri ping mechanism for retaining the pencil lead in secured position for writing;

Figure 5 is a greatly enlarged sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2, showing in detail the pencil point, the lead feeding mechanism and the frictional lead gripping mech anism Figure 6 is a perspective view of the several parts constituting the lead gripping mechanism, disassembled for greater clearness of illustration;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the feed ing mechanism, comprised substantially of a split spring-clutch adapted, when depressed, to successively grip the pencil lead to move it forward toward and beyond the point of the pencil barrel;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional detail, taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 4, showing, in elevation, the end of the feeding mechanism clutch;

Figure 9 is a cross sectional detail, taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 5, showing the cable gripping mechanism surrounding the pencil lead; and

Figure 10 is a sectional detail of the lead magazine taken on the line 10--10 of Figure 3. showingthe method of holding one lead separate and apart from those in the magazine as a reserve after the magazine has been exhausted and as a notification of the early need of a magazine replacement.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, my invention comprises a barrel 1 of cylindrical form, provided at its lower end with a conically shaped member 2 exteriorly screw-threaded at 3 and fitted into the lower end of the barrel 1, which is interiorly threaded to receive the threaded portion 3; a tip 4 fitted into the lower end of the conically shaped member 2 and held in position by means of a shoulder 5; partitioning means 6 borne by the barrel 1 near its lower end, of concave face and forming, with that portion of the barrel above it, a magazine containing chamber 8, the portion of the barrel below the concave partitioning means 6 being provided with longitudinally extending and oppositely arranged slots 9 and 10 and forming a chamber 11; a slip cap 12 adapted to fit over the reduced upper end 13 of the barrel; a lead supply magazine 14 of cylindrical form and adapted to be received by the chamber 8, the

1 lower end being open and bearing against the concave face 7 of the partition 6 and the upper end fitted to bear an eraser 15 extending within the cap 12 when the parts are assembled; means 16 and 17 formed from and borne by the walls of the magazine 14, as in dicated in Figures 3 and 10, are adapted for the retention of an extra lead 18, as a reserve and an indication of an approaching need of magazine replacement; a lead feeding mechanism 19 mounted within the chamber 11 and extending into the conically shaped member 2 and comprising a bifurcated conically shaped spring clutch-member 20, of slightly smaller diameter than the chamber 11, by which it is borne, and normally tending to expand therewithin, the halved sections 21 and 22 thereof, together with the split or halved lead clutch-members 23 and 24, forming a clutching combination adapted to enclose and grip a portion of the lead and, upon compression, to thrust it forward to and beyond the point of the pencil, as hereinafter described; a compressing and actuating clutch means comprising a pair of oppositely arranged segmental sections 26 and 27 conforming to the contour of the clutch member and provided with end hooks 28 and 29 adapted to fit into the notched sections 30 and 31 formed in the rear end of the clutch member, as shown in Fi ures 4 and 7, enabling the sectlons 26 and 2 to grip the clutch member, when moved in the direction of the pencil point, and carry it forwardly to grip and feed the lead 25, by means of the split grooved members 32 and 33, these members being counter bored at their outer ends to form an enlarged split bore adapted to loosely fit the tubular guide member 34 of the partition 6 1n the pencil barrel 1; milled finger grips 35 and 36 borne by the sections 26 and 27 as integral parts respectively, thereof and extending through the slots 9 and 10 carried by the barrel, the slots being of a sufficient length to permit ample forward movement of the finger grips 35 and 36 for the proper actuation of the clutch member a lead gripping mechanism 37 in co-action with the lead feeding mechanism 19, comprising means for normally gripping and holding the pencil lead in position for use, and means coacting with the feeding mechanism to release the lead upon the forward movement of the feeding mechanism, When desired to feed additional lead to the point of the pencil, as shown disassembled in Figure 6,

comprising a hollow tubular member 38 of woven material the threads or cords thereof being disclosed as running on a bias and adapted to fit the pencil lead and of a character that when extended longitudinally the diameter lessens causing it to exert a gripping force upon the lead, and when shortened longitudinally by releasing its stretch to release its hold upon the lead; means for normally holding the tubular member under tension; comprising a head 39 of frustum of cone shape and of a diameter corresponding to that of the inner diameter of the conically shaped member 2 of the pencil barrel and provided with a concentrically arranged extension 40, the head and extension being bored at 41 and counter bored to form a retaining bead 42 in the extension, one end of the tubular member 38 being inserted upon a threaded I bushing 42, exteriorly screwthreaded to receive the interiorly threaded pencil tip 4, and held tightly in place upon the bushing 42 by means of a ferrule 43, the opposite end of this tubular member 38 being inserted over a bushing 44 provided with a flanged end 45 and bored and counter bored at 46 and 47,the tubular member being secured to the bushing 44 by means of ashort ferrule 48 fitting tightly over the end of the tubular member and thereby clamping against the contour of the bushing 44 a spacing tube 49 inserted over the tubular member between the ends of the ferrules 43 and 48, the

ferrules and spacing tube being of like diameters to accommodate an outer slidable aligning tube 50, having a flanged end 51 and a slotted opposite end 52 to form a clamp adapted to frictionally engage the ferrule 48 and to align the several parts; and a neck 53 borne by one end of the clutch member 20 and adapted to fit over the aligning tube and abut against the flange 51 thereof, this flange being held against the neck 53 of the clutch by means of a coiled spring 54, seated in the seat 55 borne by the head 39 and encircling the ferrule 43 between the said head and the flanged end 51 of the aligning tube, the open end of said tube being normally held in engagement with the flange 45 of the bushing 44 by means ofthe spring urge against the flange 51, the counter bore 47, in the end of the flanged bushing 44, serving to guide the leads into the tubular member 38 and to align the several parts, should they manifest an inclination to sag slightly after the last lead had been thrust beyond the bushing 44. 4

The magazine 14 may be constructed of any material, transparent oropaque, and provided with a cap 56 to hold the leads 57 in place in the magazine before its insertion in the barrel chamber, or magazine holder, 8. With the magazine in place in this chamber and the pencil held in an upright position, the leads will automatically work toward the center, by virture of the concave face 7, and be fed into the central bore extending therefrom, as the one in use becomes worn and thrust forward beyond the partition 6. When the magazine leads have been used up, the reserve lead 18 is removed from the fingers 16 and 17 and inserted in the bore, attention being directed thereby to the near necessity of a magazine replacement, with its newsupply of leads.

The operation of the pencil is as follows: In Figure 1, there is illustrated the manner of holding the pencil, wherein it will be noted that a thumb and index finger grasp the milled grips 35 and 36, as a means for holding and handily manipulating the pencil in feed ing the lead, as worn away, by a slight forward movement of the grips. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, it-will be observed that, in Figure 4, the several parts are in normal position, with the spring 54 exerting pressure against the flange 51 of the aligning tube 50, which, in turn, bears against the flange of the bushing 44, thereby stretching the tubular member 38 to its limit longitudinally, which action contracts the diameter, causing it to grip tightly the enveloped lead, while, in Figure 5, the finger grips 35 and 36 are shown moved slightly forward in their slots, with the clutch member neck 53 hearing against the flange 51 of the aligning tube to release the tension of spring 54 thereagainst and thereby allow the tubular member 38 to loosen and expand diametrically, which releases its grip upon the lead, the subsequent continued forward movement and compression of the grips 35 and 36 causing. the clutch 20 to grip the released lead and to thrust it. forward until the finger grips reach the limit of their movement in the slots 9 and 10, at which point said grips are released, the spring 54 returning the clutch member to normal position, with the tubular member 38 again in tightly stretched embrace about the lead, in which gripping position it is held by the spring, the pressure brought to bear upon the point, in writing, scrvlng to augment this gripping force. When out of use, the .lead may be returned to within the tip 4, by bearing the lead point against an object and pressing downwardly upon the grips, to release the tension of the spring, as hcreinbel'oro described, when the lead will be gently forced back within the tip and protected while out of use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a magazine pencil, a chambered barrcl adapted to, carry in one end thereof a lead supply magazine, a lead feeding mechanism and a lead gripping mechanism, said gripping mechanism being comprised of a tubular flexible member adapted to enclose the lead and of a character that, when stretched longitudinally, it firmly grips the lead and, when shortened, the grip thereon is released, and means for lengthening and shortening said member.

2. In a mechanical pencil, a lead gripping mechanism including a tubular flexible member surrounding a lead and adapted to firmly grip said lead when said member is stretched longitudinally and to release said lead when said member is shortened, means for stretching saidmember and means for shortening said member, said stretching means automatirally returning said member to a stretched condition.

3. In a mechanical pencil, a lead gripping mechanism comprising a flexible fabric member adapted to surround a lead and firmly grip said lead when stretched longitudinally and to release said lead when said member is shortened.

4. In a mechanical pencil, lead gripping mechanism comprising a tubular flexible member adapted to surround a lead and firmly rip said lead when stretched longitudinal .y and to release said lead when said member is shortened, and means for stretching or shortening said member.

5. In a mechanical pencil, a lead gripping mechanism comprising a flexible fabric member adapted to surround a lead and firmly grip said lead when stretched longitudinally and to release said lead when said member is shortened, and means for stretching or shortening said member.

6. In a mechanical pencil, a lead gripping mechanism comprising a flexible fabric member adapted to surround a lead and firmly grip said lead when in normal longitudinally stretched position, and means for releasing I said member from said normal position.

7. In a mechanical pencil, the combination of a lead feeding and a lead gripping mechanism, said lead gripping mechanism COIIIPIIS- ing a flexible fabric member adapted to surround a lead and firmly grip said lead when in normal longitudinally stretched position, and means for releasing said member from said normal position.

8. In a mechanical pencil, the combination of a chambered barrel adapted to carry a lead supply magazine, a lead feeding and a lead gripping mechanism, said lead feeding when said member is elongated longitudiinechanism comprising a resilient clutch nally and to release said lead when said memlnember adapted to cooperate with said gripher is shortened, and means for automatically 10 ping mechanism, and when compressed to returning said member to the normal 5 grip and feed the lead, said gripping mechastretched position.

nism comprising a flexible member adapted to surround a lead and firmly grip said lead ANTON R. NELSON. 

